Local Unemployment Rate Improves

Monday, November 21, 2011

San Diego’s unemployment rate nudged down a tenth of 1 percent in October to 9.7 percent, from a revised 9.8 percent in September, and below October 2010’s rate of 10.4 percent, according to a Nov. 18 report from the California Employment Development Department.

The local jobless rate was below the state’s adjusted rate of 11.7 percent, but above the national adjusted rate of 9 percent for the same month. The highest state unemployment continues to be in Nevada, where it was 13.4 percent in September, according to the most recent data available.

In October, San Diego gained 11,100 net jobs, led by increases in government, professional and business services, and educational and health services.

The biggest addition, some 5,500 jobs, came from teachers and other classified staff returning to work after the summer recess, the report said.

Professional and business services added a net gain of 4,400, and educational and health increased by 3,200 jobs.

The leisure and hospitality sector showed the biggest decline, with 3,400 jobs lost.

For the full 12 months from the prior year’s October, the region’s net gain of jobs was 24,000, or 2 percent.

The increase again was led by professional and business services, up by 8,700 jobs, including nearly 3,000 temporary service positions.

Five other sectors added jobs in the past year: leisure and hospitality, up 6,400; educational and health services, 6,000; trade, transportation and utilities, 3,100; financial activities, 1,500; and manufacturing, up 900.

Four sectors showed net losses, led by construction, down 1,400; and government, down 400.